Page:Vol 6 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/263

Rh The French representatives formally signified their regret at the course adopted, and the conviction that the empire could not sustain itself. On the 19th of December came the intimation from Napoleon to withdraw all Frenchmen, soldiers and others, who so desired, including the foreign legion and the Austro-Belgian column.

This was an open violation of the convention of Miramare, which still held in this respect; and in return Maximilian resolved to ignore the financial agreement of July 30th. The result was a series of protests and embargoes, with interruption to business, and a bitterness of feeling which neither emperor nor subjects took pains to conceal.